Multiposter



L- C. GROVER Nov. 8, 1966 MULTIPOST ER Filed Aug. 17, 1964 I N VENTOR.

FIE--4- MFA YE TT E CHACE GEM/ER B ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,283,428 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 3,283,428 MULTIPOSTER Lafayette Chace Grover, 582 Market St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Aug. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 389,861 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-36) This invention relates to an advertising display device and more particularly relates to a display device suitable for installation on buses or streetcars wherein a plurality of individual cards are individually brought into a display position and periodically changed.

Such devices which have been proposed in the past have suffered from a number of defects. Thus, it ha ordinarily been necessary to mount the individual cards in some form of frame or to attach the cards to an endless belt. This results in a heavy and bulky structure and also one which is quite expenseive. Further, there is a large labor consumption in changing the advertising messages. In contrast, the device of the present invention utilizes ordinary printed sheets such as ordinary weight cardboard and it is not necessary to mount the individual cards in a frame or belt. Further, it is easy to change some or all of the advertising cards since it is only necessary to open the machine, pull out one stack of cards, and insert another stack.

The devices which have heretofore been proposed have been relatively bulky and heavy while the device of the present invention is not much larger than the advertising cards it contains and is lightweight.

Some devices which have :been proposed in the past have required a reciprocating motion wherein arms move back and forth to pick up and discharge cards. In contrast, the device of the present invention uses all rotating parts with a minimum of gearing so that the device is inexpensive, has a low energy requirement and has a long service life.

In the devices heretofore employed using holders, it is necessary to supply a fixed number of cards equal to the number of holders while with the device of the present invention any number of cards may be used up to the capacity of the device.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the balance of the specification.

In the drawings forming a part of the application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged center sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan sectional view on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to a description of the drawings by reference characters, the device of the present invention includes a protective covering having end members 5 and 7, a front member 9 and a back member 11. Mounted on the front member 9 by means of hinges 13 is a door frame 15 having a central glass opening 17 and a catch 18. Mounted on the door frame 15 is a card support member generally designated 19 having a bottom support member 21 and a back member 23 with an out-turned lip 24. The back member 23 is spaced from the glas 17 an appropriate distance to accommodate the desired number of cards while the bottom 21 in angled slightly toward the glass so that there will be a tendency for the cards to move forward into contact with the glass.

Further, the bottom 21 has a slot 25 at its junction with the door through which the cards can pass one at a time. A large flat spring 27 is mounted on rod 28 near the top of the device to further urge the cards into contact with the front glass 17. A small leaf spring 29 is mounted under the slot to prevent the front card from falling F Thus, when a stack 1 down past the reading position. of cards 30 is put into the card holder, the front card will fall through the slot 25 and be retained on the spring 29 so that it will be visible through the display window '17.

Mounted within the device is a curved deflector member 31 which is designed in such a manner that if the card is pressed against it and pushed along it will be guided down around the bottom of the machine, up against the back and then over the top whereupon it will go to the back of the stack of cards 30. Mounted on each of the end plates 5 and 7 are the endless tracks 33 and 35, respectively. The two tracks 33 and 35 are mirror images of each other and, generally speaking, have a straight back stretch 37 leading to a curved top portion 39 while the front portion of the track is curved as shown.

A traveling motor 41 is carried on a frame 43, the motor and frame following the tracks on rollers 45 and 46 mounted on opposite ends of shaft 47. A follower 49 mounted on frame 43 rides on the opposite side of the track from roller 45, while a corresponding follower 48 mounted on frame 50 rides on the opposite side of the track from roller 46. Current for the motor is supplied by a pair of brushes, one of which is shown at 51. The motor 41 has a drive gear 53 which meshes with gear 55 mounted on the shaft 47. The center of shaft 47 has a non-skid covering thereon so that it is adapted to propel a card. When the motor runs in the direction shown in FIGURE 2, the shaft 47 will be propelled around the track in a counterclockwise direction because of the rollers 45 and 46 which are in contact with the track. At the same time, the non-skid center surface of shaft 47 will be in contact with one of the cards as at 57 so that the card will be propelled along. It is obvious that the card will be propelled at a faster rate than the shaft itself is traveling because of the rotation of shaft 47. Thus the card will be forced somewhat ahead of the shaft. As the card is forced over the top of the track, the shaft will depress the spring 27, allowing the card to drop downwardly whereupon it will be caught by the lip 24 on the back member 23 and will fall in back of the stack of cards in the holder, As the haft now moves behind the member 23 it is out of contact with any card but as it goes by the small leaf spring 29, it deflects the leaf spring allowing the front card to drop through the slot 25 and at the same time be picked up by the shaft 47. Thus this card is withdrawn from the stack of cards while the neXt-to-the-front card will then become the front card and will be pressed against the transparent window 17. The card which has been picked up by shaft 47 will then be moved around to the rear of the stack as has been previously described.

As has been mentioned before, the device of the present invention is lightweight, small size and uses ordinary cards which are not mounted in a frame or in any other manner. If one desires to change the cards it is only necessary to open the front door utilizing the clasp 13 whereupon the cards can be swung forwardly and one stack of cards can be removed and another stack inserted.

Although the cards have been shown as being drawn off the front of the machine and deposited on the rear, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that when a card is added to the stack it can also be added to the front and withdrawn from the rear. Similarly, other forms of propulsion can be substituted for the electric motor, such as an air driven motor.

jbi

I claim:

1. An. advertising display device comprising in comnation:

(a) a holder for a plurality of individual display cards;

(b) a transparent Window whereby the foremost card of a plurality of cards in said holder is visible;

(c) an endless, oval track located in back of said holder;

(d) means for driving a shaft over said track;

(c) said shaft having a non-skid surface thereon, whereby said shaft will propel a card when brought into contact with said card; and, i

(f) means whereby said shaft will engage the foremost card from a plurality of cards in the holder and will transfer said card from the front to the back of said plurality of cards.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein an electric motor drives said shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM GRIEB, Examiner. 

1. AN ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A HOLDER FOR A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL DISPLAY CARDS; (B) A TRANSPARENT WINDOW WHEREBY THE FOREMOST CARD OF A PLURALITY OF CARDS IN SAID HOLDER IS VISIBLE; (C) AN ENDLESS, OVAL TRACK LOCATED IN BACK OF SAID HOLDER; (D) MEANS FOR DRIVING A SHAFT OVER SAID TRACK; (E) SAID SHAFT HAVING A NON-SKID SURFACE THEREON, WHEREBY SAID SHAFT WILL PROPEL A CARD WHEN BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH SAID CARD; AND, (F) MEANS WHEREBY SAID SHAFT WILL ENGAGE THE FOREMOST CARD FROM A PLURALITY OF CARDS IN THE HOLDER AND WILL TRANSFER SAID CARD FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF SAID PLURALITY OF CARDS. 